Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 62: Chapter 60: A Display of Authority

Inspired by Huo Sining, Luo Jinzhi also quickly packed a backpack and followed close behind Huo Sining to the playground to wait for assembly.

At nine o’clock, the assembly bell rang, and the students trickled onto the playground.

The instructors blew their whistles over and over, urging the students. It took nearly twenty minutes to complete the assembly.

The instructors’ faces turned dark in an instant.

Buses were parked at the entrance to the training camp. A group of young boys and girls with curious expressions looked around, obviously finding the camp novel and interesting.

But Huo Sining already had a premonition that these classmates would soon be very miserable.

Indeed, not long after getting off the bus, the head instructor approaching them delivered the first blow.

“Hello, everyone. Welcome to the military’s central training Camp S. I am Chen Deping, your head instructor for the next month,” said the man.

A middle-aged man in camouflage stepped forward, holding a megaphone and began to speak.

It was early September at noon, and the scorching summer sun blazed down as all the students broiled underneath it, waiting for the instructors to open the iron gates so they could enter the camp, be assigned dormitories, and rest.

Unexpectedly, the next words from Chen Deping sent everyone’s hearts into the abyss, a chill running through them.

“Now, please quickly tidy up all your luggage. The following items are to be handed over immediately. The items you voluntarily hand over will be returned to you after military training is completed. However, if any students disobey and hide things away, don’t blame me for not giving prior warning, as confiscated items will be permanently seized,” he said.

With that, Chen Deping unfolded the A4 paper in his hand and read from the list with an expressionless face:

“Mobile phones, laptops, game consoles, snacks…”

“Furthermore, to prevent you from locking your belongings in suitcases, there will be lockers in the dorms for clothing and toiletries. Please hand over locked suitcases after you have tidied up your luggage.”

From the initial looks of mutual astonishment to the subsequent open-mouthed shock, and finally to heartbroken sobs, Xue Jingjing standing on the side was wailing pitifully:

“My God, we just got here, and they’re giving us such a big ‘welcome gift’. Is this instructor trying to kill us? It’s just training for new students, we’re not even new recruits. Why is he so serious and earnest?”

Not only Xue Jingjing but the others were also deeply shaken by this order; the entrance to the training camp was a scene of despair.

But with the instructor’s command given, if you don’t comply, you can’t enter the dorm. So, no one dared to disobey the order.

The gate soon became a scene of chaos, with suitcases and backpacks flying everywhere.

Both Huo Sining and Luo Jinzhi had only a simple backpack, so there wasn’t much to hand over.

Huo Sining carried a mobile phone and handed it over without saying a word.

Luo Jinzhi, however, hesitated for a moment before blushing and taking out the four fish cakes from her pocket.

As Luo Jinzhi handed over the fish cakes, Huo Sining clearly saw the instructor in charge of the collection twitch his mouth involuntarily.

When all the items had been handed in, the instructor began to summarize:

“Most students are very conscientious, but there are also a few who have smuggled private goods. If you’re unwilling to hand them over, I won’t force you. But you better pray that you find a safe place to hide. Don’t let the fox’s tail show, because if I find out, you can wait to be punished,” he said.

As soon as Chen Deping uttered these words, several students’ complexions changed unnaturally.

On the side, Xue Jingjing and Du Yanlin exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat uneasy.

Huo Sining knew that these two must have also hidden something, but she did not speak out to persuade them to turn it in.

It was clear these two were holding onto a stroke of luck, and if military training could serve as a lesson, it would not necessarily be a bad thing.

The training camp dormitory was a shared room that could accommodate thirty-two people.

The dormitory beds were simple iron bunk beds, and Huo Sining and Luo Jinzhi conscientiously chose a bunk; Luo Jinzhi on the lower, while Huo Sining climbed to the upper.

Xue Jingjing and Du Yanlin were also assigned to the same dormitory, but as soon as they entered and saw the conditions, they became anxious.

Xue Jingjing pursed her lips, her eyes brimming with tears, “How can we live like this with so many people in one room, with no privacy at all?!”

You should have anticipated that living conditions in the army training camp would be tougher than school; it’s not like you’re living here alone—everyone is in the same boat.

Seeing Xue Jingjing’s exaggerated look of distress, Huo Sining could hardly bear to watch.

The others were silently packing and arranging their beds, with not a single person showing sympathy for her.

According to the schedule, there would be the first training session after a two-hour lunch break, and it was already twelve o’clock; they needed to quickly get their beds ready and then go to the cafeteria to eat.

Luo Jinzhi had already packed and was about to go over to console Xue Jingjing, but Huo Sining stopped her.

Huo Sining shook her head at her, and Luo Jinzhi, puzzled, ultimately did not go over.

Seeing that her cries did not attract attention from the others, Xue Jingjing sniffled and whimpered for a while before giving up and obediently began to pack her things.

Huo Sining, holding on to Luo Zhiwen, was ready to go to the cafeteria when her gaze inadvertently fell on Xue Jingjing, who stealthily pulled a bag out of her suitcase and stuffed it into her blanket.

Seeing this, Gu Yan couldn’t help shaking her head, finding it amusing.

This girl still thinks this is a high school dorm, assuming that hiding things in the blanket would keep the soldiers from searching like high school teachers would, huh?

That’s far too naive; these guys are military rogues, even a legitimate scholar can’t argue his way out, not to mention they employ politeness followed by force.

Luo Jinzhi also noticed Xue Jingjing’s sneaky behavior, and pulling at Huo Sining’s clothes, she had a look of shock and concern,

“The instructors have warned us repeatedly, how can she still dare to hide things? She’s really bold, isn’t she afraid of being caught?”

Huo Sining smiled, a hint of schadenfreude in her eyes, “Maybe she thinks the instructor is too gentle to lift her blanket, but I bet it won’t be long before we see this girl crying.”

Luo Jinzhi was considering giving a warning, but then she remembered the way Xue Jingjing looked at her like she was a bumpkin the night before, and she hesitated.

Huo Sining knew what she was thinking and couldn’t help but pull her to leave:

“Let’s go eat. You’re not a saint, we can’t manage this kind of thing. Even if you did tell her and she didn’t listen, that would be one thing, but she might even blame us for meddling. If the instructor finds her stuff, she could turn her anger on us, or even suspect we snitched. Don’t let your good intentions backfire and bring trouble on yourself.”

Huo Sining was right; although she had only just met Xue Jingjing and Du Yanlin, Luo Jinzhi faintly felt that if she really did advise them, it might turn out as Huo Sining had said: they would not appreciate her intervention and might even blame her for meddling.

After thinking it over, she gave up the idea and quickly followed Huo Sining to the cafeteria.

Huo Sining didn’t like to meddle, but soon she could no longer smile, and Luo Jinzhi was dumbstruck as well.

The two stood dumbfounded on the drill ground, looking at each other wordlessly, the corners of their mouths bearing bitter smiles, their eyes filled with deep regret.